Scowen missing for Gas test

BLUES will have to do without suspended midfielder Josh Scowen as they look to bounce back from the midweek defeat against Bradford.

The 19-year-old picked up his tenth booking of the season - and his third in three games - on Tuesday and he'll sit out tomorrow's trip to Bristol Rovers and next week's visit from Southend.

Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth admitted losing Scowen was a big blow - but he doesn't want him to change his all action style of play.

He said: "I don't think anyone at the club will be upset with me saying he's been one of our best players. He's been outstanding since he was recalled from Eastbourne Borough.

"I've got two midfielders who really relish challenges and get stuck in and that's the way I play.

"I'm not concerned about cards. If they are ridiculous - people starting fights or verbal abuse - then I've got an issue I'll have to deal with, but the way we play and the way we have this winning mentality, we're going to pick up bookings.

"If I told Josh Scowen he couldn't get booked in a game I think you lose Josh Scowen. Nobody ever told me that. If somebody had told me that, you'd have lost the Gareth Ainsworth that everybody knows.

"Passion and desire is something inside you, it's not something you can control. If you start trying to tame that, you're going to lose other bits of your game."

Winger Bruno Andrade is also a doubt to face the Gas after picking up an ankle injury in a tussle with Bradford defender Andrew Davies.

He was due to be assessed by the medical team yesterday and Ainsworth said: "He was sore after the game. It was quite a nasty fall by the Bradford centre half on his ankle. Bruno's about seven stone wet through so he's not the best at holding them off but he'll be OK."

Ainsworth scored when the sides last met in December but the Blues boss said the Pirates are a different prospect to what they faced earlier in the season.

Mark McGhee was sacked soon after that game at Adams Park and the arrival of veteran boss John Ward has led to a turnaround in Rovers' fortunes.

They've won five of their last seven and Ainsworth said: "They've been on a fantastic run. The good thing is it has to end some time and hopefully that will be against us.

"I've got a lot of respect for John Ward. He's a very good manager and a really nice guy as well. He's very highly regarded in football.

"They are very organised in the way they play and what they are going to try and do."